NPR Music says of the album: “Beach House has spent 13 years and six albums perfecting a hazy dream-pop sound that’s as versatile as it is enduringly, endearingly simple. Victoria Legrand and Alex Scally make brooding, deliberately paced music that still sparkles and sweetens in surprising ways — a contradiction summed up by the title of one of Beach House’s best records, Depression Cherry…Given its title, B-Sides And Rarities is upfront about being an exercise for enthusiasts, completists and other loving obsessives. But more casual fans shouldn’t shrug it off, either. Beach House has mounted a marvelous career on its ability to set a gloomy electro-pop mood without losing touch with its brighter side — and that gift stays on full display throughout this shaggily appealing assortment of orphaned gems [link here].”
Furthermore from Rolling Stone: “Baltimore’s dream-pop magicians offer up every previous non-LP studio track they’ve made – 14 in all. The result, unsurprisingly, is another beautifully sculpted, Fifties-goths-in-amber Beach House LP. Which isn’t to say there aren’t surprises like the snarling guitar that transforms the alternate single version of Teen Dream’s wistful “Used to Be” into something much fiercer. And “Rain in Numbers,” recorded just weeks after the band formed, is the sound of a sound being born.”
You might also like to not miss the new video for “Chariot” (from B-Sides and Rarities) which was directed by the band. The visual acts as a rumination on the creation, cultivation, and confusion of narratives in media.
Beach House’s B-Sides and Rarities can be purchased on CD / LP / DL / CS in North America from Sub Pop right here, in Europe from Bella Union, and Australia from Mistletone. LP orders in North America through the Sub Pop Mega Mart and select independent retailers will receive the Loser Edition on crystal clear vinyl (while supplies last).
B-Sides and Rarities will be available June 30th in North America from Sub Pop, in Europe from Bella Union and in Australia/New Zealand from Mistletone.
The video for “Chariot,” directed by the band, is a rumination on the creation, cultivation, and confusion of narratives in media.
The “Chariot” video comes from Beach House’s B-Sides and Rarities album, a 14-track compilation of songs from throughout their career so far, out June 30th. The album features 2 previously unreleased tracks “Chariot” and “Baseball Diamond,” which were recorded during the Depression Cherry and Thank Your Lucky Stars sessions (both Depression Cherry and Thank Your Lucky Stars were released, 2 months apart, in 2015)
[Photo Credit: Shawn Brackbill]
Beach House says of the release, “When we announced that we were releasing a B-sides and Rarities album, someone on Twitter asked, ‘B-sides record? Why would Beach House put out a B-sides record? Their A-sides are like B-sides.’ This random person has a point. Our goal has never been to make music that is explicitly commercial. Over the years, as we have worked on our 6 LPs, it wasn’t the ‘best’ or most catchy songs that made the records, just the ones that fit together to make a cohesive work. Accordingly, our B-sides are not songs that we didn’t like as much, just ones that didn’t have a place on the records we were making.”
“The idea for a B-sides record came when we realized just how many non-album songs had been made over the years, and how hard it was to find and hear many of them. This compilation contains every song we have ever made that does not exist on one of our records. There are 14 songs in total [Read more about the record right over here].”
Beach House’s B-Sides and Rarities will be released on CD / LP / CASS / DL and is available for pre-order now here. LP pre-orders in North America through the Sub Pop Mega Mart and select independent retailers will receive the Loser Edition on crystal clear vinyl (while supplies last), and a new T-shirt design will also be available to bundle with the album.
Beach House’s previously announced 2017 international headlining and festival tour schedule resumes this August. Highlights include: August 13th in Castelbuono, IT at Ypsigrock, August 16th in Sestri Levante, IT for an appearance at Mojotic Festival, and a string of September dates with friends and former labelmates Fleet Foxes (with stops at the Hollywood Bowl and Red Rocks Amphitheatre among those).
Aug. 11 - Copenhagen, DK - Haven Aug. 13 - Castelbuono, IT - Ypsigrock Aug. 16 - Sestri Levante, IT - Mojotic Festival Aug. 18 - Parades de Coura, PT - Parades de Coura Festival Sep. 23 - Los Angeles, CA - Hollywood Bowl* Sep. 24 - Phoenix, AZ - Comerica Theatre* Sep. 25 - Santa Fe, NM - Santa Fe Opera* Sep. 27 - Denver, CO - Red Rocks Amphitheatre* [Sold Out] *w/ Fleet Foxes
Now listen to previously unreleased track. “Chariot”.
[Photo Credit: Shawn Brackbill]
Cry those tears of joy, because on Friday, June 30th, Beach House will release the B-Sides and Rarities album (pre-order here!), a 14-track compilation of songs from throughout their career. The album features 2 previously unreleased tracks “Chariot” (as seen above) and “Baseball Diamond,” which were recorded during the Depression Cherry and Thank Your Lucky Stars sessions (both Depression Cherry and Thank Your Lucky Stars were released, 2 months apart, in 2015)
Beach House says of the release, “When we announced that we were releasing a B-sides and rarities album, someone on Twitter asked, ‘B-sides record? Why would Beach House put out a B-sides record? Their A-sides are like B-sides.’ This random person has a point. Our goal has never been to make music that is explicitly commercial. Over the years, as we have worked on our 6 LPs, it wasn’t the ‘best’ or most catchy songs that made the records, just the ones that fit together to make a cohesive work. Accordingly, our B-sides are not songs that we didn’t like as much, just ones that didn’t have a place on the records we were making.”
“The idea for a B-sides record came when we realized just how many non-album songs had been made over the years, and how hard it was to find and hear many of them. This compilation contains every song we have ever made that does not exist on one of our records. There are 14 songs in total.”
Beach House’s B-Sides and Rarities will be released on CD / LP / CASS / DL and is available for pre-order now here. LP pre-orders in North America through the Sub Pop Mega Mart and select independent retailers will receive the Loser Edition on crystal clear vinyl (while supplies last), and a new T-shirt design will also be available to bundle with the album.
B-Sides and Rarities Tracklisting: 1. Chariot 2. Baby 3. Equal Mind 4. Used to Be (2008 Single Version) 5. White Moon (iTunes Session Remix) 6. Baseball Diamond 7. Norway (iTunes Session Remix) 8. Play the Game 9. The Arrangement 10. Saturn Song 11. Rain in Numbers 12. I Do Not Care for the Winter Sun 13. 10 Mile Stereo (Cough Syrup Remix) 14. Wherever You Go
About the B Sides and Rarities album:
When we announced that we were releasing a B-sides and rarities album, someone on Twitter asked, “B-sides record? Why would Beach House put out a B-sides record? Their A-sides are like B-sides.” This random person has a point. Our goal has never been to make music that is explicitly commercial. Over the years, as we have worked on our 6 LPs, it wasn’t the “best” or most catchy songs that made the records, just the ones that fit together to make a cohesive work. Accordingly, our B-sides are not songs that we didn’t like as much, just ones that didn’t have a place on the records we were making.
The idea for a B-sides record came when we realized just how many non-album songs had been made over the years, and how hard it was to find and hear many of them. This compilation contains every song we have ever made that does not exist on one of our records. There are 14 songs in total.
The oldest song is “Rain in Numbers” and was recorded in 2005, during the summer we formed the band. We didn’t have a piano, so we asked our friend if we could use his, which was pretty out of tune. We used the mic that was on the four-track machine to record the piano and vocals. It was originally the secret song on our self-titled debut.
Sequentially, the next couple of songs are from late 2008. We were so excited about “Used to Be,” that we recorded it right after writing it so that we could have it as a 7” single for our fall tour with the Baltimore Round Robin. We recorded our cover of Queen’s “Play the Game” in the same session. It was for a charity compilation benefiting AIDS research and we will continue to donate all profits from the song to that charity. As fans of Queen, we thought it would be fun and ridiculous to try to adapt their high-powered pop song into our realm. These songs were recorded at the same studio where we made Devotion.
There are a bunch of songs written and recorded in the 2009-2010 window. This period of time, as well as 2014, was our most prolific to date. “Baby” was written and recorded in October 2009 with our friend Jason Quever. “10 Mile Stereo” was recorded during the Teen Dream session in July 2009. Since we used tape, we often slowed the tape way down to create effects while recording. When we were doing that for “10 Mile Stereo” we decided we wanted to make an alternate version where the whole song was slowed down, hence the “10 Mile Stereo (Cough Syrup Remix).”
“White Moon” and “The Arrangement” were both songs that we didn’t believe fit on Teen Dream. “White Moon” originally appeared on our iTunes live session. Since that was recorded and mixed very hastily, we have remixed it to better match our current aesthetics. We have also remixed and included the version of “Norway” we did at that same session. The main reason we wanted to include “Norway” is that it features a very different bridge from the original version.
After the insane year of touring we had in 2010, we felt incredibly grateful to our fans for all that had happened. We wrote and recorded “I Do Not Care for the Winter Sun” during a break between tours and released it on the internet for free, unmastered. Well, it’s finally been mastered…
“Wherever You Go” Is another song from that era. We always loved this song but thought it sounded too much like our old music. We paused writing it and didn’t finish it until 2011 during the Bloom recording session. It appeared originally as a secret song on Bloom.
“Equal Mind” was also recorded during the Bloom session. We really like this song, but pulled it from the record when we realized it had the exact same tempo as “Other People.” They are like twins.
The Bloom sessions led to “Saturn Song” as well. This song is built on a piano loop we wrote while recording Bloom. It also contains sounds recorded in deep space. It originally appeared on a compilation of songs incorporating space sounds that was released in 2014.
Finally, there are two previously unreleased songs from the Depression Cherry/Thank Your Lucky Stars sessions. They are called “Chariot” and “Baseball Diamond.”
Beach House has also added new dates to their 2017 international headlining and festival tour schedule. Highlights include: August 13th in Castelbuono, IT at Ypsigrock, August 16th in Sestri Levante, IT for an appearance at Mojotic Festival, and a string of September dates with friends and former labelmates Fleet Foxes (with stops at the Hollywood Bowl and Red Rocks Amphitheatre among those).
Beach House will also appear at New York’s Governor’s Ball the weekend of June 2nd-4th.
May 24 - Charlotte, NC - Neighborhood Theatre May 26 - Orlando, FL - Beacham Theatre May 27 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL - The Revolution May 28 - Ponte Vedra, FL - Ponte Vedra Concert Hall May 30 - Athens, GA - Georgia Theatre May 31 - Knoxville, TN - Mill & Mine Jun. 02 - New York, NY - Governor’s Ball Jun. 03 - New York, NY - Governor’s Ball Jun. 04 - New York, NY - Governor’s Ball Aug. 11 - Copenhagen, DK - Haven Aug. 13 - Castelbuono, IT - Ypsigrock Aug. 16 - Sestri Levante, IT - Mojotic Festival Aug. 18 - Parades de Coura, PT - Parades de Coura Festival Sep. 23 - Los Angeles, CA - Hollywood Bowl* Sep. 24 - Phoenix, AZ - Comerica Theatre* Sep. 25 - Santa Fe, NM - Santa Fe Opera* Sep. 27 - Denver, CO - Red Rocks Amphitheatre* *w/ Fleet Foxes
Friends don’t let friends miss out on Beach House news, so here’s something you can (and really should) shout from your figurative and/or literal rooftops: Beach House has scheduled a series of 2017 international headlining and festival tour dates which span March 29th through August 18th - tickets for US headlining dates go on sale Friday at 10am EST. Eastern US dates will include stops in Wilmington, Lancaster, Charlotte, Orlando, Ft. Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Athens, and Knoxville. European cities currently include stops in Copenhagen and Parades de Coura, Portugal. (List of dates is below.)
Beach House will also appear at the Ceremonia Festival near Mexico City on April 1st and New York’s Governors Ball on June 2nd.
You might also be delighted to know that Beach House is currently at work on a rarities and B-sides compilation that will be released during the first half of 2017. So stay tuned, dear reader…
Mar. 29 - Wilmington, DE - World Cafe Live Mar. 30 - Lancaster, PA - Chameleon Club Apr. 01 - Mexico City, MX - Ceremonia Festival May 24 - Charlotte, NC - Neighborhood Theatre May 26 - Orlando, FL - Beacham Theatre May 27 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL - The Revolution May 28 - Ponte Vedra, FL - Ponte Vedra Concert Hall May 30 - Athens, GA - Georgia Theatre May 31 - Knoxville, TN - Mill & Mine Jun. 02 - New York, NY - Governor’s Ball Aug. 11 - Copenhagen, DK - Haven Aug. 18 - Parades de Coura, PT - Parades de Coura Festival
Listen to the Season 2 trailer, and subscribe now!
Mere months after its unforeseeably really, pretty great first season earlier this year, and in response to largely precedented levels of demand for more, the Sub Pop Podcast will return for a 10-episode second season on Wednesday, October 12th. Season Two of the Sub Pop Podcast will run weekly from October 12th through December 14th and will be available through all finer podcast distribution points.
Produced and hosted by real-life Sub Pop employees Alissa Atkins and Arwen Nicks at the label’s Seattle headquarters, the Sub Pop Podcast, of course, is where you can hear stories from inside, outside, and adjacent to Sub Pop, Seattle’s premier medium-sized record label. We focus on conversations with our artists, people who work at/with/around Sub Pop, and anyone else willing or reckless enough to talk to us. And same goes for our sibling label Hardly Art. We will continue to include, impose on, sponge off, and otherwise implicate them, as well.
In its conspicuously excellent debut season, from January 10th of this year, through to April 1st, we managed to produce and then release 11 (which, for some reason, we called 10 ½…) episodes of Sub Pop’s very first podcast. And then, between April 1 and now, we put out an additional two, interstitial, summer episodes in an effort to sustain the arguably ravenous interest of our dozens upon dozens of regular listeners. We spoke with principal members of Band of Horses, Mass Gothic, Chastity Belt, Mudhoney, Shearwater, S, King Tuff, and a whole bunch more. And, we were recognized with an Honorable Mention in the Seattle Weekly’s 2016 Readers’ Poll for local, music-based podcasts which currently exist! This sort of intoxicating recognition has us gunning for at least second runner-up next year. The entirety of this first season, and our summer episodes remain available everywhere now.
In the upcoming second season, unrelated to any outstanding debts or lost bets, we managed to convince an impressive array of folks to talk with us. Here we are referring to such celebrated figures from the wide world of entertainment as: Alex and Victoria from Beach House, Sam Beam from Iron and Wine, Tad from TAD, Benjamin Gibbard from both Death Cab for Cutie and The Postal Service, Kathleen Hanna, Father John Misty, Jonah Ray, members of CSS and Clipping, our boss and benefactor Jonathan Poneman (More than once! He’s the boss!), plus, reliably, “more.” We also took the Sub Pop Podcast on the road, with trips to both Poland and Portland, and down to the Sub Pop store at Sea-Tac Airport.
In the spirit of tell and show, you can listen to a trailer for the Sub Pop Podcast, Season Two (and, again, every previous episode) at subpop.fm RIGHT NOW. If you like what you hear, you can subscribe (in iTunes or anything) right now, too. The first episode of the new season will be available Wednesday, October 12, and new episodes will be delivered weekly until December 14, 2016.
SO! Visit subpop.fm to listen to the new trailer for the second season, subscribe to the podcast, and sign up for the podcast mailing list. Send us your thoughts and feelings here: podcast@subpop.com.
The Sub Pop Podcast: Absolutely nothing sounds better.
This past Friday, Beach House appeared on Charlie Rose on PBS. The group sat for an in-depth interview and performed “Rough Song” and “The Traveller” from their latest release Thank Your Lucky Stars. In case you missed it, you can now watch here.
Beach House’s previously announced tour schedule in support of Thank Your Lucky Stars and Depression Cherry is underway with a show tonight, Tuesday, August 9th in Spokane at Knitting Factory and runs through November 4th-6th in Austin at Sound on Sound Festival. Highlights for the trek include: a club and theatre tour August 8th-26th; FYF in Los Angeles on August 28th; And Hopscotch Music Festival in Raleigh on September 9th. Please find a full list of tour dates below.
Beach House recently delivered an official video for “The Traveller,” from Thank Your Lucky Stars. The new visual was directed by Jennifer Juniper Stratford can be viewed right here.
Tour Dates + Ticket Links Aug. 09 - Spokane, Spokane, WA - Knitting Factory* Aug. 10 - Missoula, MT - Wilma Theater* Aug. 12 - Sioux Falls, ID - The District* Aug. 13 - Eau Claire, WI - Eaux Claires Music Festival Aug. 16 - Indianapolis, IN - Deluxe @ Old National Centre* Aug. 17 - Louisville, KY - Headliner’s Music Hall* Aug. 19 - Columbia, MO - Blue Note* Aug. 20 - Kansas City, MO - Uptown Theater* Aug. 22 - Denver, CO - Ogden Theater* Aug. 24 - Las Vegas, NV - House of Blues* Aug. 26 - Los Angeles, CA - Theater at Ace Hotel* Aug. 28 - Los Angeles, CA - FYF Fest Sep. 09 - Raleigh, NC - Hopscotch Music Festival Nov. 04 - Austin, TX - Sound On Sound Festival Nov. 05 - Austin, TX - Sound On Sound Festival Nov. 06 - Austin, TX - Sound On Sound Festival *w/ Entrance
